Audio clock



AUDIO CLOCK Filed ui 5.1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR NORMAN c. MILATZ Y Wyym ATTORNE Y April 21 Filed July 5} 1967 2 Shet-Sheei 2 PLAY BACK 2 UNIT 60 W 45 86 v i no v. L o r 7 A.c. 4 2 56 7 v T 20 i? 54 27 88 W CLOSED CLOSED rl lllll II I III OPEN OPEN 9' FIG-7 CLOSED n CLOSED CONTACT 9|. LAMP 5e OPEN Iss' 30' 4s go'lls' 5o OPEN I5 30 45' 69 I5 30' FIG. 6 FIGS INVENTOR NORMAN c, MILATZ ATTORNEY 1 United States Patent 3,507,110 AUDIO CLOCK Norman C. Milatz, 2382 Casper, Detroit, Mich. 48209 Filed July 3, 1967, Ser. No. 650,753 Int. Cl. G04c 21/14 US. Cl. 58-14 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An audio clock having a timer that actuates a self-contamed tape playback unit so as to announce the time, and deliver preselected messages at spaced intervals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to time measuring devices generally, and more particularly to an audio clock which is well adapted for use in hospitals and homes for the sightless where the patients or inmates are unable to view the clock face. It also provides a convenient means for teach ing children to read time, and conveying interesting and instructive messages at spaced intervals. Alarms clocks, cuckoo clocks, chime clocks and others all contain a means for creating an audible alarm or time signal, but none are equipped to announce the time and convey messages at spaced intervals.-

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention consists of an audio clock having a face for visually displaying the time, and associated means for periodically actuating a self-contained tape playback unit to announce the time at spaced time intervals. The tape in the playback unit is a continuous loop, having thereon a series of time announcements and preselected messages separated by transparent control sections which are utilized to synchronize the tape with the time indicated on the clock face.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is an elevation view showing the relative size of the clock face and frame of the applicants audio clock FIGURE 2 is an elevation view, taken substantially on plane 2--2 in FIGURE 1, showing the case and the speaker louvers on the side.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged elevation view of the clock case, detached from the frame, showing location of the various electrical and electromechanical components thereon mounted.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram shownng the electrical circuitry of the applicants audio clock.

FIGURE 5 is a diagram showing the timing provided by the cam operated switch 52 in conjunction with contact 92.

FIGURE 6 is a diagram showing the timing provided by the cam operated electrical switch 52 in conjunction with contact 91.

FIGURE 7 is a diagram showing the timing provided bythe time delay relay 90.

FIGURE 8 is a diagram showing the timing provided for the incandescent lamp 56 operatively associated with the photoelectric cell 54.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Physical structure Referring to the drawing in the application, nnumeral 10 designates an ornamental frame having centrally disposed therein a clock face 12 enclosed with a convex transparent cover 14. A case 16, attached to the frame 3 ,507 ,1 10' Patented Apr. 21, 1970 10 by angle brackets 18, has mounted therein the various electrical and electromechanical components comprising the applicants invention. A magnetic core transformer 20, located in one corner of the case 16, provides low voltage power for operating the applicants clock.

A circular container 22, mounted in the case 16, has therein a continuous audio tape 24 stored on a rotatable reel 25. The audio tape 24 is looped around a pair of spaced guide pins 26 provided by a playback unit 28. A drive unit 30 for the audio tape 24 comprises a motor 32 connected by a belt 34 to a pulley 36 which rotates a resilient friction roller 38. A speaker 40-, for the tape playback unit 28, is mounted on one side of the case 16 which is provided with spaced louvers 42 for emitting sound.

A timing unit 44, mounted centrally in the case 16, has a motor 46 driving a clock shaft 48, and an adjustable cam 50. A single pole double throw switch 52, operated by the adjustable cam 50, is connected into the control circuit in a manner to be hereinafter described in detail. A photoelectric cell 54 is mounted in the case 16 for operation by a small incandescent lamp 56 placed on the The transformer 20 has a primary Winding 60, which is connected to a source of alternating currentelectrical potential by means of an extension cord 62 and a plug 64. A pair of secondary coils 66 and 68 on the transformer 20 have terminals 70, 71 and 72, 73 respectively. Terminal 71 on the secondary transformer coil 66 is connected to a grounded terminal 74. The other terminal 70 of the secondary coil 66 connects directly to a silicon diode 75 having an anode 76 and a cathode 77.

The cathode 77 is connected to grounded terminal 74 through a filter capacitor 78. The cathode 77 also connects to a standard tape playback unit 28, through a normally open relay contact 79. Terminal 73 of the transformer coil 68 connects directly to a grounded terminal 80. The other terminal 72 of the transformer coil 78 is connected to silicon diode 81 having an anode 82 and a cathode 83. The cathode 83 is connected to a grounded terminal through a filter capacitor 84. The cathode 83 is also connected to one terminal of a relay coil 85 which controls the normally open relay contact 79.

The other terminal of the relay coil 85 connects to one lead of the photoelectric cell 54 through a current limiting resistor 86. The other lead of the photoelectric cell 54 is connected directly to ground. The incandescent lamp 56, serving as a light source for the photoelectric cell 54, has one lead 86 connected directly to terminal 70 of the secondary transformer coil 66. The other lead 88 of the incandescent lamp 56 connects to a common terminal 89 which provides a circuit to ground either through the double pole switch 52 or a time delay relay 90.

The double pole switch 52, operated by the adjustable cam 50, has two contacts 91 and 92, and a grounded common terminal 93. Contact 92 is connected directly to common terminal 89, and contact 91 connects to one lead 94 of the heating element in the time delay relay 90. The other lead 95 of the heating element is connected directly to terminal 70 of the secondary transformer coil 66. The time delay relay has two contacts 96 and 97 which connect respectively to ground and common terminal 89.

The preceding discussion completes a description of the structure and circuitry comprising the applicants invention as herein disclosed; however, to provide a more thorough understanding and appreciation of the subject matter presented, a brief discussion will be directed to the manner in which the applicants audio clock operates in performing its intended function.

3 Modus operandi In practice, time announcements and messages are recorded on the continuous audio tape 24 by the manufacturer and placed in the playback unit 28. For the purposes of this discussion, it will be assumed that the time announcements and messages are to be played at hourly intervals. However, regardless of the time interval selected, and the messages recorded, the operation is substantially the same; therefore, a discussion of operation will be limited to a selected time interval of one hour.

Accordingly, a timing unit 44 is installed by the manufacturer which will rotate the adjustable cam 50 a full 360 degrees every hour. The adjustable cam 50 is then adjusted to shift the switch 52 once every 60 minutes from the full line position on the contact 92 to the broken line position on contact 91, as shown in FIGURE 4. The adjustable cam 50 permits the switch 52 to remain in this position for approximately 10 minutes, as shown by the timing diagram of FIGURES 5 and 6, at the end of which -minute interval, it is returned to the full line position on the contact 92.

In preparing the tape 24 for use in applicants audio clock, a clear section 27, capable of transmitting light, is provided between each recorded announcement for use in maintaining synchronization between the visual time on the clock face 12 and the time announcements on the audio tape 24. When it is desired to place the clock in operation, the plug 64 is inserted into an electrical outlet, not shown, thereby providing a source of alternating current potential for energizing the transformer Electrical power is thus delivered to the motor 46, which produces rotation of the clock shaft 48 and the adjustable cam 50 in the arrow directions indicated in FIGURE 3. With the opening on the adjustable cam 50, as shown in FIGURE 3, the switch 52 closes immediately on contact 91 thereby energizing the heating element of time delay relay 90, and simultaneously opening the electrical circuit of the incandescent lamp 56.

This interrupts light reaching the photoelectric cell 54 through the clear sections 27 in the audio tape 24 for approximately 2 seconds, as shown by the timing diagram of FIGURE 8. Such interruption increases the internal resistance of the photoelectric cell 54 in the circuit of the relay coil 85 sufiiciently to allow the normally open relay contact 79 to close. This immediately directs power to the playback unit 28 thereby energizing its amplifier and drive unit 30 for the audio tape 24.

This moves the clear section 27 of the audio tape past the photoelectric cell 54, and causes the messages recorded thereon to be played through the speaker of the playback unit 28. In approximately 2 seconds, as indicated by the timing diagram of FIGURE 7, the time delay relay 90 closes on contact 97, again completing the circuit of the incandescent lamp 56. In this way, the playback unit 28 is interrupted when the next clear section 27 on the audio tape reaches -a position between the photoelectric cell 54 and the incandescent lamp 56 insuring the playing of only one message.

The time delay relay 90 remains in the closed position for approximately 10 minutes until the switch 52 is again shifted by the rotating cam to the full line position on contact 92. This immediately opens the circuit to the heating element in the time delay relay 90, which permits the relay contact to open in approximately 2 seconds, as shown by the timing diagram of FIGURE 7. Such delay in the opening of the time delay contact provides ample time for the switch 52 to close on contact 92 so as to avoid an interruption in the-circuit of the incandescent lamp 56. Y

Synchronization between the visual time and the tim announcements on the audio tape 24 is provided when the clock is assembled. This is done by coordinating the audio tape 24 with the time shown on the clock face 12, and placing the adjustable cam 50 in a corresponding position. As both the adjustable cam 50 and the clock shaft 48 are driven by a common motor 46, mis-synchronization is thus prevented whenever the clock is withdrawn from service temporarily, or stopped as a result of a power failure.

In practice, the frequency of time announcements and recorded messages is selected to meet the requirements peculiar to the use for which the clock is intended. The messages may be both informative and humorous, and may be rendered more interesting by using a voice which is well known and readily recognizable. It is possible to modify the applicants clock for use as either a table or fioor model, and provide an open face so as to further adapt it for use by the sightless.

Based upon the foregoing discussion, the applicant is of the opinion that his invention has fulfilled a long-felt need in the field of timing devices generally, and that he has made a valuable contribution to the related art. However, while the invention was described with reference to the details of a single embodiment, it will be appreciated by those familiar with the art that the principles involved are susceptible of numerous other modifications.

Therefore, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An audio clock comprising a timer having a driven cam, a switch operated by the driven cam, a playback unit having a continuous audio tape with messages recorded thereon, a first electrical circuit including a relay switch for operating the playback unit, electrical means controlling the relay switch in the first electrical circuit, a second electrical circuit including the cam operated switch connected in parallel with a time delay relay switch for controlling the electrical means, and a source of power for the timer, electrical circuits and playback unit; said cam operated switch being adapted to close at a preselected time interval thereby energizing the second electrical circuit which allows the relay switch to close and energize the first electrical circuit so as to activate the playback unit, and simultaneously therewith energize the time delay relay which is adapted to de-energize the first electrical circuit after a preselected time interval to insure the playing of only a single recorded message on the audio tape.

2. The audio clock of claim 1 in which the electrical means controlling the relay switch in the first electrical circuit comprises a light transmitting section on the continuous audio tape between each recorded message, a source of light on one side of the audio tape and a light sensing device on the other side of the audio tape operated by light received from the light source through the light transmitting sections of the audio tape.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1961 Sampson 250-219 4/1968 Davis et al. 58-14 

